Tobacco stripping and booking machine



Jan. 19, 1932.

H. .A. HINCHCLIFF TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24,1950 5 sheets sheet l 7 I 2 lblYENT BY 2 j g; ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1932. H.A. HINCHCLIFF 1,841,531

TOBACCO STRIPPING u) BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1930 5 sheets-Sheet2 -5 56 7 )5 ,,g, 42/ w W 1 ATTORNEY 19, 19325 H. A. HINCHCLIFF 71,841,531

TOBACCO STRIPP ING AND BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24. 1950 5 Sheiats-Sheet 3 if? 4 ,7 K 4 .53 4. Q I IVIIIIIIIIIIIIIlll'll-IIIIIIIIJII.VIII! ATTORNEY N Jan. 19, 1932. H. A.HINCHCLIFF I 1,341,531

TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24. 1930 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Jol A J a'ri.' 19, 1932- -H. A. HINCHCLIFF 1,841,531

TOBACCO STRIPPING AND BOOKING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1930- 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Ilv INVENTOR I Patented Jan. 19, 1932 HENRY ALLENHmormmrr, or oonnnenrorivr, NEW YORK TOBACCO :SYTRIPPINGAND BooK NeMACHINE The present invention relates to machines for stripping andbookingtobacco leaves and consists of. improvements in construction, inW arrangement andin operation otlering ma- 'terial advantages over themachines as heretofo re employed for a like purpose.

Important improved features of the present invention include: animproved cutting arrangement employing a novel type of rota-ry cutterdesigned to conform to the tapered contour of the stem to be severed soas to effect a substantial reduction of Waste leaf membrane andfurthermore having a groove formation to cooperate with apressurerollerfor feeding of the leaf in the stripping ordesteming o eration; animproved means, operative automatically, for stopping the booking drumaft-ereach cutting opera tion'and having associated therewith provisionfor ad usting of the initial orstarting position of the cutter so as toadapt the operation thereof for economically dost-eming different sizesof leaf as the conditions require; provision for driving of the rotarycutter and the coacting roller to have uniform speed of theopposed andcoactlng surfaces with special provision to compensate for change in thecontact diameter of the m roller thereby to reduce the wear on thecutter to the minimum; means for adjusting the pressure between thegrooved roller and the cutter and special provision for supporting theleaf until deposited on the drum by the belts. 5" I l 'he foregoing andother important features and advantages of the present invention will bemore fully understood by refs 1 erence tothe accompanying drawingswherein an approved embodiment of the invention is disclosed and whereinlikereference char acters are applied in the several views.

' ln'thedrawings: v 1

Fig. l'is side GlGVZitl-Oll of the machine embodying --the features ofmy invention taken from the left. I r

Fig. 2 is a view thereof in frontzelevation with the gear box shown insection on the line (a--a of Application filed April 24,

to the corresponding parts Fig. 3 is a right hand elevation of the ma-1930. Serial ll'o. 446,834.

chine with gear box shown in section on the line 6+6 of Fig. 2. Y I

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the drum, cutter and upperroller, with the front shown down, taken on line o-.-a of Fig. 2, with aportion of the knife or cutter broken away.

Fig. 5 isa partialsectional View taken on line ;Z-. Z of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a section, taken in a near ,hori-- zontal plane, of the upperroller on line ee of Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is a central vertical cross section of the drums and cutter takenon line ff of :Fig l.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View showing the development of the knife orcutter.

Flg. 9 1s a detail sectionalview of the clutch release pin taken on linegg of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 isa vertical sectional view of the clutchtaken on line 7t7z. ofFig. 3 and Figs. 11 to 13 are detail sectional views of the cutter andcoactingpressure roller taken on lines rc.c, y-y and 2-2 of Fig. 8respectively. i In the approved embodiment of thefeatures oi my presentinvention as here shown, the supporting parts include the left sideframe 1 connected to the rightside frame member 2 by a rearcross.franieinember 3, the front cross frame 4 and the foot treadlebearing and tie rod 5. On the'frame 2 is supported the motor bracket v6supportmg motor 8 energrzed'by a. suitable electric circuit and controlswitch not shown.

in the arrangement, conventional to this [type of machine, there issuitably journalled upon the frame acylindr'icalcarrier or book ing'drum8789 provided at'its central portion withan annular knife or cutter 91ro-- 10. The motor shaft 9 is arranged in axial alignment with a wormshaft 11 and slidably mounted on the worm shaft 11 is the cone l lengaged by the spring 15 interposed between it and the collar 16 fixedon the shaft. The spring normally moves the cone let into clutchingengagement with the cup member of the clutch 10 except when disengagedas hercinatter described. With the clutch engaged, the motor drives theworm shaft 11 upon which the cone clutch member is slidably keyed in theusual manner. The worm shaft has suitable hearings in the gear box 13and formed with a worm thread 11 meshing with the helical idler gear 19and the helical drum gear 20.

Drum cmmections.lin accordance with the present invention the drum isrotated by means of the drum gear 20 with provision, operativeautomatically, to stop the rotation at an initial or staring pointdetermined by an adjustable and releasable stop thereby to adjust thestarting point with relation to t 11G portion of the cutter suited fordesteming leaves of a given size. In accordance therewith, the drum gear20 has afiirqed thereto by rivets a ratchet wheel 22 and is pinned tothe drum shaft The latter shaft has freely journalled thereon the stoparm 25, the position of which is controlled by the hand whee. 26 havinga tongue 26 fitted within a groove in the stop arm as shown. The handwheel 26 is mounted freely upon the drum shaft 23 and is maintained inposition thereon by a collar 27 aflixed to the shaft. The stop armcarries a stud 29 upon which is pivotally mounted the pawl 30 held inengagement with the ratchet wheel 22 by the spring 31 connected to pin32 on the pawl and to pin 32 on the stop arm. By moving the handwhee 26clockwise 3) the position of the stop arm 25 can be set to any desirednotch, which will change the location of the stopping position withrespect to the drum shaft 23 and with respect to any of the partsconnected thereto. As the drum shaft 23 is caused to rotate only in a.clockwise direction by the worm 11 a coacting stop is rovided andpositioned to be engaged by the stop arm and which shall be releasableat the will of the operator for restarting after the stop engagement hasoperated. In the stopping action. it is arranged whereby the coactingstop is mounted to be movable upon engagement therewith of the stop withprovision for transmitting the movement to the clutch member fordisengaging the same. This provision as shown includes a forked clutchoperating arm 33 having projections 33 fitted within a groove 14 formedin the clutch cone member. The operating arm 33 is suitably fastened toa shaft journalled in bearings in the frame members 1 and 2. Thereleasable stop as shown comprises a stop pin 40 slidably fitted incoacting stop arm 41 and maintained in its oute' position by the actionof spring 42 (Fig. 9). As shown in Fig. 3, the stop pin 40 is normallypositioned to be engaged by the stop arm 25 and can be moved orretracted from its engaging position by means of a slotted arm asengaging a cross pin a l on the stop pin and slidable in slot 41 of thearm ll and projecting into the slot of arm 43. The arm 41 is pivotallymounted upon a stud 45 carried by the frame 2 and maintained in itsupper position for engagement by the stop arm 25 by the spring as. Thearm ell formed with a projection 41. as shown positioned to engage theend of the clutch operating arm 33 whereby upon engagement of the stoparm 25 with the coacting pin 40, movement will be imparted to the latterand transmitted by the engagement of the projection ll with the clutchoperating lever to the clutch cone member so as to dise gage the clutchfor stopping of the drum rotation.

The slotted arm 43 fastened to shaft 47, the latter being ournalled inthe frame 2 and carrying, inside the frame, the arm 48 like wise rigidlyfastened to the shaft. The arm lb is connected to be operated by thefoot treadle 51 by means of the link 49 pivotally connected by stud 50to the arm and by stud 52 to the treadle; the treadle be ing mountedupon the bearing rod 5. A spring 53 is, as shown, arranged by itsconnection to the link 49 to operate normally to elevate the treadle andin consequence maintain the stop pin 40 in position for eugagement bythe stop arm The treadle 51, which is the right hand foot treadle,accordingly controls the single or one revolution action of the machineand when it is desired to start the machine this treadle is depressedand instantly released. This effects the retraction of the stop pin 40,allowing spring 46 to n'iove arm 4:1. upwardly to release clutchoperating arm 33 which then permits spring 153 to move the cone member1% in frictional clutch engagement. Releasing the foot treadle allowsthe pin 40 to again assume its position for engagement by the stop arm25 to again stop the machine upon the completion of the singlerevolution of the drum.

1018mm st0p.A second foot treadle control. left hand side as here shown.is provided with suitable connections to the clutch for disengaging theclutch to stop the machine at the will of the operator and at anyinterval of the drum revolution. For this purpose. inside of the lefthand frame 1, there is fastened on the shaft 34, an arm 35 which isoperated by a link 36 connected to studs 37 and 39 from the foot treadle38 mounted on the bearing rod 5 convenient to the left foot of theoperator.

' Gutter will drioc.As shown in Fig. 6, the helical idler ear 19 hasformed therewith the knife roller drive sprocket and the brush "drivesprocket 60. This gear run-s freely onthe shaft 56 and is maintained inalignment on said shaft by the side frame 2 and the collar 57 affixed tothe shaft. The shaft 56 is journalled to turn freely in the framemembers 1 and 2. A knife roller supporting arm bland 'coacting'arm 63and a pressure adjustment arm 65 are affixed to the shaft 56 whichalsocarries asknife' roller scraper -67"secured stud 68 w-hrchrispositionedto allow the scraper to swing laterally to maintain properengagement with the roller 77.

The arms 61 and, 63 have bearings at their outer ends for the kniferoller shaft 69 which is positively driven by the chain 72 running 'oversprocket 7O keyed upon the roller shaft.

The shaft 69 passes through an opening in the bracket 73 which acts as aclosure member'for the gear box 13. This opening is enlarged to allowthe shaft 69 to swing up and downas the drum or cutter radius varies ashereinafter described.

The belt rolls 74 and 75 are journalled freely on the shaft 69 andpositioned centrally between these rollers is the cutter roller '57keyed on the shaft to be positively driven therewith. The key 7 6therefor is slightly elongated allowing lateral shifting of the cutterroller to maintain proper bearing upon the rotary cutter, which supportsthe roller assembly and whichmay not always run true.

This lateral movement accordingly will allow the roller to bear equallyon the spaced cutting edges of the cutteror drum knife. The roller 7 7hasa groove as shown adapted to re- 1 ceive the upper portion of thestem as here inafter described. 1 The pressure control arm 65has aweight 7 9 adjustably'mounted thereon for adjusting the pressure of theroller upon the knife or cutter. The pressure, as will be' understood 1Ssupplemented by the weight of the parts mounted on arms 61 and 63 andbythe pull of theusualbooking belts 79, '80, 81, 82, 83 and 81. i V 1 Drumand outter.As shown in Fig. 'i, the drum shaft 23 has its bearings inframe members 1 and 2 and is located laterally by the hub of drum gear20 and a fixed collar 85.

- The drum member 87 is fastened to the shaft 23 by the pin 88 and thecomplemental drum member 89 is fastened to said shaft by the pin 90. Theannularcutter or knife 91 is as "shown fitted to inwardly extendingflanges formed on the respective drum members 87' and 89 and 1srotatively secured thereon by the pin 92 extended'through an aperture inthe cutter and fitting registering holes in the drum members.

Thecutter' 91, in accordance with an important feature ofthe presentinvention, formed as best shown in Fi s. 2 4, 7 "and 11 with a centralperipheral groove bounded at the outer sides bythe opposite'cutting orknife edges 91. Theknife edges, as best shown in-thedevelopment thereofin Fig. 8,

are arranged with the cutting portions thereof in angular relationprogressively diminish ing in'spaced relation orc'utting widthfrom apoint a to'the point 7) 'soas to conjointly form acutter adapted to'severth'e stemfrom the leaf membrane with a tapering cut. The cuttingportion of the knife froma to b has a tapering relation conforming tothe taper of the averagestem of the leaf to be stripped. The compromiseportion of the cutter from b to 0 having reverse angularity of the edgesis adaptedto act as a clamp or gripper for inclined shoulders forsupporting the inner edge of the leaf membrane until deposited upon thedrums by the belts 81 and 82.

The cuttingaction of the machine as described is as follows: theoperator feeds the tip of the stem into the grooves of the upper :95

roller andthe drum knife or cutter'wherein the stem is compressed sothat the leaf is pulled into the machine. The stem fits into thegroovesso that the upper half portion is in the roller groove and thelower halfportion thereof isin the cutter groove, positioning themembrane of the leaf at the level V of the cutting edges. As these areshaped to correspond to the shape of the-stem, the resulting cutwi'll beclose to the stem and leave 5 very little of the valuable leaf membraneon the stem. The groove between the cutting edges of the cutter isfurther formed to decrease in depth as the distance between Aspreviously explained, thepressure between the'roller and the cutter maybe adjustedby the movement of the weight 7 9 on the-arm 65 to obtain aneffective cutting pressure.

As described, the width of the cutting at 1). Due to the fact that theroller is supported'by thecutting edges of the cutter and that thegroove in the roller 77 is "concaved in cross sectlonal contour, as thewidth of the cutting edges decreases they willycome in con-tactwith asmaller radius or diameter of the roller. As both the roller and cutterare positively driven this variation of contact di am'eter tends toalter the relative "speeds of,

the coacting or contact surfaces. -To'-'con1- the edges becomes less,thereby providing 171110 for aconstant pull on the stema ndper'm'ittingeasy feeding of the'leaf to bestripped.

edges or spaced relation varies from a maX- 'lmum 'as shown at a totheminimum width pensate for this condition and to the end of maintainingsubstantially uniform surface speed of the coacting surfaces, the radiusof the cutting edges is arranged as shown best in Fig. 4: toprogressively lessen or decrease in diameter from the initial orstarting point a to a degree required for maintaining constant relativesurface speed of the coacting surfaces of the cutter and roller.

When the stripped stem emerges from the grooves between the cutter 91and the roller 77 the stem may do any one of three things. It may clingto the knife roller 77 from which it will be removed by the scraper 67to drop onto the belts which will deposit it into a chute 130. It maydrop directly onto the belts which will convey it to the chute or it mayadhere to the knife to be removed by a scraper 131 provided on the rearcross frame 3 which likewise supports the chute. A chute cover 132 isprovided prevent the stems from getting entangled in the belts, thecover being supported between the side frames 1 and 2.

Brush 001meci'f0ns. .s best shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the idler gear 19also has formed with it the sprocket 30 which drives through chain 93the brush sprocket 9 1 se cured on a brush shaft 95. This brush shaft,as best shown in Fig. 5 is ournalled in frame member 2 and has at itsinner end a recess adapted to receive a key projection of a brush 96.The other end of the brush fits in a recess 97 of a sleeve 97 journalledon a stud 98 driven into tl e frame 1. The brush 96 is arranged so thatwhen the pivotal front 99 is up it will be in position to remove thetips of the leaves from the belts 81 and 82 and throw them back upon thedrum where they belong. The swinging front 99 is pivotally supportedupon the shaft 10 1. the end portions of which are eccentric with.respect to the portion of the shaft on which the front 99 is mounted.The left hand eccentric 1041' projects beyond frame 1 and has a handle105 by which the shaft 101 may be rotated in its eccentric bearings andcause the front to be raised or lowered. The belts 79, 80, 81, 82 83 and8 1 pass over the front return rollers 100 and 101 which run freely onshafts 102 and 103. Shaft 102 projects beyond the left side frame 1 sothat the operator can use it for a handle to swing the front out againsta stop pin 107 when it is desired to remove the stripped and bookedleaves from the machine. The front rollers are prevented from restingagainst the drum by the f ont projection 99 hearing against a pin 106 onthe frame.

Helper-As best shown in 1 and 2., the endless belts 79, 80, 81. 82 83and 84 pass from the upper return rollers 74 and around the drums 87 and89 by which they are driven by frictional engagement and during theoperation by engagement with the leaves interposed between the belts andthe drum. Upon leaving the drum the belts pass over the front returnrollers 100101 (Figs. 4: and 5), under the idler roller 108, whichrotates freely on shaft 109, over idler roller 110 on shaft 111, undertension rollers 112, 113, 114., 115, 116 and 117 (Fig. over upper returnguide roller 118 journalled on a shaft 119 and thence back to the upperreturn rollers 7 1-75. The tension rollers 112 to 117 have individual.pivoted and weighted mountings each of which consists of studs 120 uponwhich the rollers are journalled, the studs 120 being mounted on tensionarms 121. The tension arms are all mounted upon a shaft 127 on whichthey swing freely. Each arm is provided with a slidable weight 129adjustable in position for adjusting the tension of the associated belt.

Operation-Before starting to strip any tobacco the drum knife or cuttershould be set to that position at which the cutter groove will compressthe stem and leave a minimum of membrane on the stripped stem. If thepower is on, the operator depresses both treadles t ereby disengagingthe clutch and withdrawn the release pin 4-0 from engagement with tnestop arm The handwheel 26 can now be rotated clockwise (from right handside) to the desired position. This po sition will be where the width ofthe knife is slightly less than the width of the stem and somewhcresbetween the points (I, and b (Fig. 7). Care will be taken to have thecutting completed before the end of the leaf reaches point 6. Frequentlyin stripping fine wrapper where a very fine cut is desirable the rearend of the leaf will. be set so as to just reach the point b. After thesetting is accomplished the trcadles will be released and the drum 8789will rotate until the stop arm 25 engages the coacting pin 40, therebystopping the machine. Thereafter the machine will always stop at thisset point except when the operator neglects to release the right handfoot trcadle or unless the machine is temyora *ily stopped by thedepression of the left foot treadle 38.

The ope 'ator now sits in front of the machine and takes one of theleaves to be stripped and feeds the butt or larger end of the stem intothe grooves between the roller 77 and the cutter 91. Both foot treadlesare depressed, the right one momentarily. The release of the left foottreadlc 38 allows the machine to run and the stem is ripped bycompression within the grooves. The entire leaf is opened by the handspermitting the leaf to slip through the fingers. From time to time, asthe leaf is drawn into the machine faster than it can be properlyopened, the motion is retarded or stopped by the operator by depressingthe left foot trca-dle 38. Vhen the leaf has been completely drawn intothe machine the operator releases the left foot treadle permitting themachine to pass through the remainder of its cycle at its fastest speed.During this time the operator is pickingyup another leaf to begin thecycle Over again as soon as the machine has stopped. p

As the leaf, is drawn'into the machine by the compression of the stem,the knife edges sever the leaf on either side of the stem. The stem,passing through the grooves, is disposed of as previously described. Thehalf of. eachleaf is deposited on the drum niembers by the belts and iscarried around on the drum members until the machine is stopped asdescribed. As the machine will be again started at the same point on thedrum and the leaf will be fed at the same time, it will be laid on topof the previous leaf. This operation will be repeated until a booki isformed. When the required number of leaves to complete the book havebeen fed into the machine they are removed in a group. This is done byallowing the machine to the stop position. Both treadles are nowdepressed and held down. The front 99 is pulled'from the in positionagainstpin 106 (shown in Fig. l) tothe outer or open position againstpin 10'? (shown in Fig. 4), by pulling on the extension of shaft 102.The ends of each book will be properly fed) under the front and in suchposition that they can be taken, one in each hand. The pressure on thelefttreadle 38 is now released slightly so that the drum advances alittle and by doing this. alternately the stripped leaves may be drawnfrom the machine in perfect condition. Upon closing of the front a newlot may then be started.

While I have described and shown an approved" embodiment of the featuresofthe present invention, it will be understood that the. disclosure isillustrative and that varied modifications thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims. As an example thereof, while I have shown my improved cuttingarrangement comprising a I cutter" having its cutting edges in taperedrelation to correspond to the taper of the stem and cooperating with apressure roller each of which is positively driven, it will beunderstood that if desired the roller may be mount ed as an idler andfrictionally driven and in this [casethe cutter maybe formed with thetapered cutting edges and groove therebetween to possess the importantadvantages as described but of a concentric form as the necessity ofcompensating for variation of the contact diameter with the roller wouldthen be eliminated. l I

Having described my invention, I claim: LA tobacco strippingfmachinecomprising arotary drum, a cutter carried by the drumand provided withopposite cutting edges in angular relationadapted toproduce v a cuttapered substantially toconform to the taper ofthe leaf stem, meansoperative automatically to stop the drum' at a determlnedstartingposition and means for adjusting the operative relation of the cutterand start ing position for adjusting the cutter action to differentsizes of leaves.

2. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cu" ing edges inangular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially toconform to the taper of the leaf stem, means for rotating the drum,means operative automatically to stop the drum at a predeterminedstarting position, said latter means being adjustable to establish aninitially effective portion of the cutter edges suited to the larger endof the leaf stem to be severed.

l 3. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce cut tapered substantially to con-Iorm to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitablyjournalled to bear upon the cutting edges to coact therewith in thecutting'operation, means operative automatiformto the taperoftheleaf'stem, a pressure roller suitably journalled to bear upon thecutting edges to coact therewith in the cutting operation and providedwith a groove circumferentially thereof to receive the stem, means forrotatingthe cutter and roller to have uniform coacting surface speed,means operative automatically to stop the drum at.

a predetermined starting position and means for adjusting the operativerelation of the cutter and starting position for adjusting the cutteraction to different sizes of leaves.

5. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by thedrum and provided with opposite cutting edgesin'angular relation adapted to aroduce a cut tapered substantially toconform to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitablyjournalled to bear upon the cutting edges to coact therewith in the weting operation, said cutter being formed with a groove between thecutting edges having a progressive reduction in size'to have feedingengagement with the stem, means for rotating the drum and meansoperative automatian m ' taper of the leaf steam, a rol cally to stopthe drum at a predetermined starting position.

6. A tobacco stripping machine compris ing a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and erovided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially toconform to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitabl 1journalled to bear upon the cutting edges to coact therewith in thecutting operation, said cutter and roller being formed with grooves forfeeding engagement with the stem, means for rotating the cutter androller to have uniform coacting surface speed, adjustable means forapplying pressure of the roller on the cutter, means for rotating thedrum and means operative automatically to stop the drum at apredetermined starting position.

7. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially toconform to the taper of the leaf stem, a roller pivotally supported tobear upon the cutter ao coact therewith in the cutting operation,adjustable means for applying pressure on the roller, said cutterandroller being relatively formed for gripping the leaf stem undercompression for feeding the leaf, means for rotating the drum and meansoperative automatically for stopping the drum at a predeterminedstarting position.

8. A. tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular re ation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially toconform to the ler pivotally supported to bear upon the cutter to coacttherewith in the cutting operation, adjustable means for applyingpressure of the roller on the cutter, aid cutter and roller beingrelatively formed for gripping the leaf stein under compression forfeeding of the leaf during the cutting operation, means for rotating thedrum and roller to have substantially uniform speed of their coactingsur faces and means operative automatically for stopping the drum at apredetermined starting position.

9. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a tapered cutsubst-antiallyconforming to the taper of a leaf stem, a roller pivotally supported tobear upon the cutter to coact there 'ith in the cutting operation, saidcutter being formed with a circumferential groove intermediate of thecutting edges of progressively diminishing depth as the cutting cdgesdecrease in spaced relation and having annular shoulders at the outersides of the cutting edges for supporting the leaf, means for rotatingthe drum and means operative automatically for stopping the drum at apredetermined starting position.

10. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a tapered cut substantiallyconforming to the taper of the leaf stem, a roller pivotally supportedto bear upon the cutter to coact therewith in the cutting operation,said roller being formed with a circumferential groove to receive theupper portion of the leaf stem, means for rotating the drum and theroller to effect substantially uniform u'iovemcnt of the coactingsurfaces of the roller and cutting edges and said cutting edges beingformed of progressively reduced diameter as their spaced relationdecreases to compensate for reduction in diameter of the engaged portionof the roller, means for rotating the drum and means operativeautomatically for stopping the drum at a predetermined position.

ll. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cuting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially toconform to the taper of a leaf stem, means for rotating the drum andmeans operative automatically for stopping the drum at a predeterminedstarting position, said latter means comprising a stop arm rotativelysecured to the drum and adjustable angularly with relation thereto and acoacting stop positioned to be engaged by the stop arm, said coactingstop being shiftable from engaging position for restarting.

12. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered to conform to thetaper of the leaf stem, means for rotating the drum including ashiftable clutch member and means operative automatically for stoppingthe drum at a predetermined starting position consisting of a stop armrotatively secured to the drum and adjustable angularly with relationthereto, a coacting stop positioned to be engaged by the stop arm,connections from the latter stop to the clutch member, said coactingstop being shiftable from engaging position and treadle connectionsthereto for shifting of said stop for starting of the machine.

13. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered to conform to thetaper of the leaf stem, means for rotating the drum including ashiftable clutch member and ice iii)

' into engaging position,

connections'to ally stopping of the machine tion consisting of a stoparm rotativelv secured to the drum and adjustable an ularly' withrelation thereto, a coactmg stop positioned to be engaged by the stoparm and connected to transmit movement to the clutch member, saidcoacting stop being provided with a contact pin slid-ably mountedtherein, means operative normally to move said pin to said pin forretracting same for starting of the machine and a second treadle withthe clutch member for manuthe will of the operator. 7

14. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite-cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially toconform to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitablyjournalled to bear upon the cutting edges to coact therewith in thecutting operation, said roller being formed with a circumferentialgroove and being mounted to have lateral shifting movement formaintaining proper engagement with the cutting edges, means [forrotating the drum and means operative automatically for stopping thedrum at a predetermined starting position. I v

15. A tobacco stripping machine comprising drum composed of alignedcylindrical drum sections suitably journalled, a circular cuttersupported upon inner flanges of the drum sections, said cutter beingprovided with opposite cutting edges in angular rela tion adapted toproduce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of the leafstem, said cutter being formed with a central groove between the cuttingedges adapted to receive the stem, aroller pivotally supported. to bearupon the cutter and formed with a central circumferential groove tocoact with the cutter groove for pressure feeding engagement with thestem, said roller being supported to have lateral movement to insureproper engagement with the cutter, means for rotating the drum, meansoperative automatically to stop the drum at a, predeter- I minedstarting position, said latter means being adjustable to establish aninitially effective portion of the cutter suited" to the larger end ofthe leaf stem to be severed and manually operated means for interruptingthe rotation of the drum atthe will of the operator. A

16. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially to conform to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitablyjournalled to bear upon the treadle connections 1 formed with groovescutting edges to coact therewith in the cutting operation, said cutterbeing formed with 7 between the cutting edges for feeda groove stem andmeans for ing engagement with the rotating the drum.

17. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adapted to produce a cut tapered substantially toconform to the taper of the leaf stem, a pressure roller suitablyjournalled to bear uponthe cutting edges to coact therewith inthecutting operation, said cutter and roller being for feeding engagementwith the stem, adjustable means for apply ing pressure of the roller onthe cutter and means for rotating the cutter and roller to have uniformcoacting surface speed.

18. A tobacco stripping machine compris-' ing a rotary drum, a circularcutter carried by the'drum and provided with opposite cutting edges inangular relation adaptedto produce a cut tapered substantially to con--form to the taper ofthe leaf stem, a roller pivotally supported to bearupon the cutter, adjustable means for applying pressure of the roller onthe cutter, said cutter and roller being relatively formed for grippingof the leaf stem under compression for feeding the leaf and means forrotating the drum.

19. A tobacco stripping and booking machine comprising a. rotary drum, acutter carried by the drum centrally thereof, means for rotating thedrum, belt supporting rollers arranged to support booking belts atopposite sidesof the cutter and to pass from an upper frontal reversingposition 'rearwardly to a lower frontal reversing position and includinga roller pivotally supportedat the latter position, a pivotallysupported swinging front for supporting the latter roller, a brushsuitably journalled and positioned to deflect the leaves onto the drumfrom the belts as the latter pass over the lower reversing roller andthe pivotal support of the swinging front being adjustable for raisingand lowering the lower reversing roller with relation to the brush,substantially as described. i

signed at College Point, in the county of Queens and State of New York,this 1 1 day of April, A. D. 1930.

[HENRY ALLEN HINCHCLIFF.

